Portable casing for housing video production equipment

ABSTRACT

A portable case for a production studio having a housing. The housing includes a bottom, opposed sides and back forming a well therein. A cover is rotatably affixed to the housing and moving between a first position for closing the well and a second position for opening the well. The rotating cover has a recess formed therein and an energy absorbing structure disposed within the recess for supporting and maintaining a video monitor within the recess.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/154,656 filed on Feb. 23, 2009 in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to a casing for housing video and broadcast production equipment, and in particular, to a portable casing capable of travel while maintaining the integrity of the equipment housed therein.

With the miniaturization of electronic equipment, it has become possible to move live broadcast and video production processing from the studio out into the field. The equipment has become mobile, shrinking in size so that once what was housed in tractor trailers, was capable of being transported in a van, and is now capable of being housed in an oversized steamer trunk. Such equipment is exemplified by the FLYPACK™ Mobile Studio In A Box sold by TV Pro Gear.

This system includes a casing for holding production equipment such as switches, recorders, routers and patches capable of receiving the feeds from one or more cameras and the attachment of a video monitor such as a plasma or LCD display. The casing allows for the use of equipment in the field to display the incoming signal on the monitor and controlling the input signal from the one or more cameras to be displayed and/or recorded.

As is known, although sophisticated, the equipment housed within the casing is often delicate and must be protected to withstand the rigors of use on the road in a variety of environments and the travel between locations. As a result, the monitor is often packaged independently of the remainder of the equipment. The remaining circuitry is mounted within racks which may slide in and out like drawers in a dresser within a rugged rack-like framework. Although satisfactory, the arrangement of the equipment and circuitry within the racks often results in inconvenient placing of the equipment for live use. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the video monitor, an additional and specialized arrangement must be made for transport thereof. Lastly, the current casings with their integrated rack structures do not lend themselves to scalability, so that more specialized smaller equipment casings are not possible.

Accordingly, a system which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art casing is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable casing for mounting video production equipment therein includes a body. A housing is formed of a back panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, opposed to the first side panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel, opposed to each other and all connected to each other to form a well within the housing. A top is rotatably affixed to the housing and moves between a first position which closes the housing, and a second position which opens the housing providing access to the well. The top is formed with a recess therein and at least one energy absorption member disposed within the recess for receiving and supporting a monitor therein.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two wheels are disposed within the body at a corner formed by the back and at least one side panel. A telescopic handle is disposed within the housing and extends from a panel.

In another embodiment of the invention, energy absorption material may be disposed within the well for receiving production equipment therein. A shelf is slidably disposed within the housing at a top end of the housing and is in facing relationship with the cover when the cover is disposed in the first position.

In another embodiment of the invention, a router switch is disposed within the well at a 45 degree angle relative to the back panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a casing constructed in according with the invention with the cover in the closed position and with exterior lids attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the casing constructed in accordance with the invention without the side lids attached thereto and with the cover in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the case constructed in accordance with the invention with the lids attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view along line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the casing constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with the cover in the open position and exemplary equipment stored therein;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a case constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention with the cover in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the case of the second embodiment of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the casing constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the casing constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a slide elevation view of the casing constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the casing constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention in the open position;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the invention constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention in the open position;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective of a case constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention in an open position; and

FIG. 15 is a rear elevation view of the case of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1-4 in which a casing generally indicated as 10 includes a housing 12 mounted upon a platform 18. Platform 18 is affixed to wheels 20 provided at each corner of platform 18. It should be noted that it is well within the scope of the invention to directly mount wheels 18 to housing 12 without the requirement of platform 18, however platform 18 aids in supporting other structure during shipment such as lids 14, 16 as will be discussed below.

Housing 12 is formed of a side panel 22 and a side panel 23 extending from a bottom 27. Side panels 22 and 23 are disposed along panel 27 in opposed facing relationship with a space there between. Each of side panels 22, 23 include an extension area 24 extending upwardly, in a direction away from platform 18, from respective side panels 22, 23. A back panel 29 connects side panels 22, 23 to form an enclosed well 32 open to a top, to be discussed below, and at the front (a side of housing 12 away from back panel 29).

In a preferred embodiment, upper extension areas 24, are connected by a stationary cover 39. This provides stability and integrity to the overall housing 12 and protection for any circuitry or equipment stored between extended areas 24.

A rotating cover 26 is rotatably affixed to upper extended portion 24 along stationary cover 39. Cover 26 may be affixed to stationary cover 39 by any of a single hinge, a living hinge, a plurality of hinges or any other structure which enables rotating cover 26 to move in the direction of arrow A between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) and an open position (shown in FIG. 5).

Rotating cover 26 is formed of opposed side panels 21 and a back panel 25 forming a recess 30 there between. An energy absorbing structure 40 is provided within recess 30.

In one embodiment, energy absorbing structure 40 includes at least one shock absorber 42 which is affixed to back panel 25 and extends into recess 30 to support a video monitor therein. Shock absorbers 42 include a shaft 44 affixed to back panel 25 by a secure, structure such as a rivet, bolt or the like. An energy dissipating member 46 formed as a rubber disc in one, non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, is disposed about shaft 44 and a rigid coupling device 48 for affixing to a monitor 35 and is made of a hard plastic or metal is disposed on shaft 44 between, and in contact with, energy dissipating structure 46 and monitor 35. Energy dissipating structure 44 acts as an energy dissipating or absorbing member, and is preferably made of rubber, but may be formed of any foam, sponge, or compressible material, including a spring or fluid shock absorber, that acts to absorb and/or dissipate energy applied thereto. In this way, monitor 35, sensitive equipment, is held in a protective manner.

Additionally, recess 30 may be lined in its entirety or in parts with an energy absorbing material 43 such as foam insulation which may have the additional property of protecting the equipment from extreme temperatures. However, material 43 may also be made of a rubber or any other energy absorbing material. In a preferred embodiment, the material is foam as it is a non-supporting structure, and therefore, is preferably lightweight to reduce shipping costs or fatigue to the crew responsible for transporting casing 10.

In other embodiments, it is also contemplated and discussed below, that a shock absorber structure 42 may be affixed to side panels 21 such that a frame (not shown) is affixed to shock absorbers. Video screen 35 would then be mounted within the frame.

In a preferred embodiment, rotating cover 26 is coupled to housing 12 by a support member 28, such as a telescoping arm capable of holding a position along its extension by way of non-limiting example, so that rotating cover 26 may be maintained in any position between the closed position of FIG. 1 and the open position shown in FIG. 1. Any support which maintains cover 26 in an open position may be substituted therefore. For greater stability, in a preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a metal plate 50 is affixed to side panels 21 of rotating cover 26 at a position of cover 26 to which supports 28 are affixed.

Reference is now made more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the interior of housing 12 is shown with greater particularity. A well 32 is formed by side panels 22, 23, back panel 29 and bottom panel 27. Well 32 is fitted with structure to support production equipment therein. In one non-limiting embodiment, a frame 60 is disposed within well 32 in spaced relationship from panels 22, 23 and 27. An energy absorbing material 62 is disposed within the space. Again, the energy absorbing material may be any material which dissipates energy and/or motion such as rubber, corrugated paper, cardboard, plastic, or as in a preferred, but non-limiting, example a lightweight foam. Equipment 64, such as a recorder, router, switch or the like is mounted to frame 60 within well 32. In this way, the necessary equipment is stored in a protective manner within the confines of well 32, so that it can be wheeled and transported without the need for removal from casing 10.

In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, a shelf 34 is slidably disposed between side panels 22, 23. Sliding panel 34 is mounted utilizing known hardware such as a telescoping glide 37, wheels on a track, or the like. Equipment 38 is disposed on sliding tray 34 and is maintained in position during use and in transit on sliding tray 34 by form fitting energy absorbing material 36. Energy absorbing material 36 maintains a tension fit between sliding tray 34 and equipment 38.

Sliding tray 34 is disposed within well 32 in facing relationship with recess 30 when rotating cover 26 is in a closed position, at a height at which equipment 38 is convenient for use and at a height to provide sufficient clearance such that when sliding tray 34 is slid fully into case 34, and rotating cover 26 is in the closed position, monitor 35 does not interfere or contact equipment 38. This may be a result of the width of monitor 35 within recess 30, the height of drawer 34 relative to rotating cover 26, the height of equipment 38 or all of the above.

A locking mechanism 37 is provided on drawer 34 to lock drawer 34 within housing 12. Locking mechanism 37 may be a simple latch lock which cooperates with rotating cover 26 when rotating cover 26 is in the closed position, or more complex locks interacting with the structure of housing 12. In this way, drawer 34 is maintained in a fixed position during transit maintaining equipment 38 in a protected position.

By using an extended area 24, additional storage space is created between opposing side panels 22, 23 beneath cover 29 (see FIG. 5). A storage area 70 between opposed extended areas 24 may be utilized for the storage of other equipment such as equalizers, mixers or things that require direct access, i.e. not appropriate for storing within well 32. Storage area 70 is preferably provided with an energy dissipating structure 74 which again, may be either shock absorber members, or an energy absorbing material. In the preferred embodiment, a lightweight energy absorbing material such as foam is utilized. A frame 76 is disposed within storage area 70. Energy dissipating member 74 is disposed about frame 76. Equipment 72 is disposed within frame 76 and supported by the energy absorbing material of energy dissipating member 74 to protect equipment 72 during transit while allowing easy access to equipment 72 during use when cover 26 is in the open position.

When not in use, and during transit, a front lid 14 is affixed to and mounted upon housing 12. Front lid 14 selectively secures the attached to housing 12 by lock latches 80, which releasably connect lid 14 to side panels 22, 23 of housing 12. The area and shape of front lid 14 substantially conforms to housing 12. Utilizing lid 14 further maintains sliding tray 34 in position, prevents rotation of rotating cover 26 from a closed position and covers any access to equipment 64, 72 or 38 from the exterior. In other words, lid 14 prevents exposure of the equipment housed within housing 12.

In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, access is often provided through access openings such as access opening 90 (FIG. 5) to input and output jacks for the respective equipment 38, 64, 72 and the like. As a result, the equipment is not only exposed to the environment from the front, but from the rear as well. Therefore, during transport, a protective lid 16 is releasably affixed to housing 12 by latches 80 in the same manner as discussed above. Lastly, a locking latch 92 is provided to lock rotating cover 26 in the closed position. Handles 100 may be provided in any of the panels to facilitate maneuverability and transport of casing 10.

When in the field, it is sometimes necessary to remove some of the production equipment from the case for appropriate use, or to position other auxiliary equipment such as recording devices or the like which interact with equipment stored in casing 10 near casing 10 for convenient use. Therefore, a table is often needed. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, either one of proactive lids 14, 16 have depth. Stored within the depth in the space between the lid and housing 12 are retractable legs affixed to the respective lid. These legs which may be rotated into and out of place, as known in the art, form a table which readily travels with casing 10.

During transport, casing 10 is wheeled or carried from position to position in the closed position. The closed position is rotating cover 26 in the closed position and protective lids 14, 16 secured to housing 12 (FIG. 1). Upon arrival at the destination, lids 14, 16 are removed. This enables access to equipment stored between panels 22, 23 and cover 26 is rotated in the direction of arrow A and maintained in an open position by a support member 28. Access has now been provided to all the equipment. A technician may then connect the equipment 72, 38, 64 as needed to the ancillary input equipment such as cameras, microphones and the like by access to back panel 29 and access openings 90. Monitor 35 can readily be seen.

The equipment is used until it is required at another location. At that point, the equipment contained within casing 10 is disconnected from the ancillary equipment. Tray 34 is pushed into housing 12. Rotating cover 26 is rotated into the closed position. Protective lids 14 and 16 are secured by locks 80 to housing 14 and the entire casing 10 may then be wheeled or carried to the next location. During transit, the equipment is protected by the energy absorbing structures provided within housing 12.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6-13 wherein a second embodiment of the case, generally indicated at 200 is provided. Like numerals are utilized to indicated like structure. The primary difference between this embodiment and that of casing 10 is the size of housing 12 and the use of wheels and a telescoping handle.

Casing 200 includes a housing generally indicated as 212. Housing 212 includes a side panels 222, 223 extending from a bottom panel 227 and a back panel 229. A rotatable cover 226 is rotatably affixed along a hinge 230 to back panel 229.

Cover 226 encloses an energy absorbing structure 240. Video monitor 35 is supported by energy absorbing member 240 within cover 226 which may take the form of shock absorber members 242 (similar to those described above) or energy absorbing material 244. The energy absorbing structure 242 include; at least one shock absorber 242 mounted to extend from side panels 221 into recess 230. The shock absorbers (FIG. 13) have similar structure to those shown in FIG. 4 and are secured to monitor 35 within recess 230 at the sides of monitor 35. Monitor 35 may be provided with a frame 248 for the shock absorber structures to attach to. Energy absorbing material 244 may also be disposed, by way of non-limiting example, within recess 230 to surround and cushion video monitor 35.

Again, cover 226 rotates between a first open position as shown in FIG. 7 and a closed position as shown in FIG. 6. Locking supports 228 extend between cover 226 and housing 212 to maintain rotating cover 226 in the open position. As known in the art, supports 228 selectively lock in place and when released, folds upon itself other as cover 226 is moved into the closed position. However, the telescoping supports discussed above, or any other structure for selectively maintaining rotating cover 226 in the open position may be used.

A well 232 is formed within housing 212. An energy absorbing material 236 is disposed at bottom panel 227 within well 232. Equipment 38 is disposed within the energy absorbing material 236 in a manner as discussed above. In this way, equipment is supported within housing 212 and is protected during transit but accessible for easy use at the location. In a preferred embodiment, rubber supports 231 are provided on bottom panel 227 to protect bottom panel 227 and prevent casing 200 from sliding across a table when in use.

Again, to provide connectivity to the ancillary equipment, a cutout 290 is provided within housing 212 at back panel 229 to provide access to the input and outputs jacks associated with equipment 38. In case 200, rather than providing a protective lid at the rear access cutouts, case 200 is provided with a door 292 rotatably mounted to casing 212 along a hinge 294. In this way, during use, access is provided to equipment 38 and during transport, the interior of housing 212 is protected.

Whereas casing 10 is sufficiently large that it is readily pushed from location to location; as becomes readily apparent, casing 200 is sufficiently small that pushing would require stooping over. Therefore, rather than requiring constant carrying, a rolling mechanism is provided.

Rolling system 300 includes wheels 20 disposed at an edge of back panel 227. At an opposite edge, rolling structure 300 includes a retractable handle assembly 310. Handle assembly 310 includes a support 305 at an edge of back panel 27 opposite to the edge of back panel 27 supporting wheels 20. Retractable handle assembly 310 includes a grip 302 connected to handle rods 303, which are slidably received in outer sleeves 304. Outer sleeves 304 may be anchored to support 305 or another support frame within well 232 along bottom panel 227. In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, handle rods 303 are made of square tubings which provide for stronger handle rods as compared to rods which are made of round tubings. In another preferred embodiment, handle assembly 300 may include additional handle rods 309 which slidably receive handle rods 303 themselves, and in turn, are slidably received by outer sleeves 304. In this way, a collapsible handle assembly telescopes into place to allow for the wheeling of casing 200 during transport.

When in the closed position, a front protective lid 214 is provided, and attaches to housing 212 by locking latches 280 provided on each of side panels 222, 223. It should be noted, that it is well within the scope of the invention to provide a sliding tray within well 232.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 14 and 15 in which a third embodiment of the invention generally indicated as 400 is provided. Like numbers will utilized to indicated like structure to facilitate description. The primary difference between this embodiment and the others is the arrangement and positioning of the equipment within well 232.

Casing 400 includes a housing 412 having a side panel 222 and an opposed side panel 223, a bottom panel (not shown) and a back panel 229. A rotating cover 226 is rotatably affixed to back panel 229 by hinge 230 or the like as discussed in greater detail above. A recess 232 is formed within rotating cover 226. An energy absorbing structure 240 is disposed within rotating cover 226 and is adapted to support a video monitor 35 therein.

Structure 240 may include a shock absorber structure of at least two or more shock absorbers 246; at least one shock absorber 246 being disposed on a respective side of monitor 35. Shock absorbers 246 as described in detail above may be formed of a shaft, energy absorbing material such as a rubber, a spring or the like, and a sufficiently rigid material to affix and support a video monitor 35. Additionally, an energy absorbing material 448 may be disposed with recess 232 about video 35. As discussed in detail above, this material may be of any material such as rubber, corrugated paper, baffles, rubber, foam or the like which absorbs the mechanical energy experiences by the interior of the case as the exterior of the case is transported.

The prior art case structure merely utilized a number of fixed racks within a casing. As a result, much of the equipment was disposed at inconvenient positions for the equipment operator. By way of example, in the prior art, equipment that needed to be readily accessed such as a router switch, recording devices and the like were hidden in lower racks, i.e. a rack beneath another rack, making access to control switches, and the use of prior art mobile studios difficult.

In the present invention, the case positions necessary structure for easy use, as well as protection during transit. Energy absorbing material is disposed within a well 232 formed between side walls 222, 223, back wall 229 and a front wall 422. The equipment is disposed within the energy absorbing material 434 to form a tension fit among the equipment, material 434 and housing 412. An opening 490 similar to that described above, is provided in rear wall 229 to provide access to input/output jacks as described below for control and monitoring of the ancillary equipment.

Access to a first router switch 492 and its input/output jacks 494 is provided through opening 490. Similarly, the input/out jacks of a patch panel 494 can be accessed through opening 490. By placing a first router switch 492 at the rear of housing 412 and a second router switch 496 at the front of housing 412 control of routing and connectivity with the desired inputs to the equipment within well 232 is provided in a manner convenient to the operator and to the wired inputs from the cameras and other equipment.

In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, router switch 496 is provided at a 45 degree angle relative to bottom panel 227. This facilitates control of all the remaining equipment within housing 412. In this way, all of the equipment is behind the router switch 496 for easy manipulation and monitoring. Such equipment may include recording control unit 498, a recording device 500 or an auxiliary mounted monitor 502, all of which are supported within housing 412 with an energy absorbing material 434.

It is readily understood, that the features of the previous embodiments may be incorporated within casing 400 such as wheels, handles, support structure and the like.

By providing the video monitor within a rotating cover and protected by energy absorbing/dissipating structure, a mobile studio is provided in which the video monitor is protected during transit and is immediately ready for convenient use upon opening of the casing at the destination. By providing a sliding tray in facing relation with the video monitor during transit, the equipment at the tray becomes immediately available at the top of the casing, which is a convenient more natural position for use of control equipment by an operator. By further reducing the size of some of casings to that of the conventional suitcase, pushing is inconvenient for transport by providing a handle and wheeling structure for easy use, while providing the necessary room, orientation and protection for the delicate production equipment including the video monitor an easier mode of transit is provided.

It will thus be seen the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently obtained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between. 

1. A portable case for a production studio comprising: a housing, the housing having a bottom, sides and back for forming a well therein; and a cover rotatably affixed to said housing and movable between a first position for closing the well and a second position for opening the well, the rotating cover having a recess formed therein and an energy absorbing structure disposed within said recess for supporting and maintaining a video monitor within said recess.
 2. The casing of claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing structure includes at least one shock absorber extending from said cover to within said recess for supporting a video monitor within said recess.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing structure is an energy absorbing material disposed within said recess and arranged to form a tension fit between the video monitor and the interior of the rotating cover.
 4. The casing of claim 1, further comprising a sliding tray disposed with said housing, the tray sliding from within the housing to a position extending from said housing.
 5. The casing of claim 4, further comprising an energy absorbing material disposed on said tray.
 6. The casing of claim 1, further comprising at least one protective lid releasably detachably affixed to said housing.
 7. The casing of claim 1, further comprising wheels mounted to said housing.
 8. The casing of claim 7, further comprising a retractable handle assembly affixed to said housing.
 9. The casing of claim 1, further comprising a first router switch mounted within said housing at a back panel of said housing, the housing further comprising a front panel and a bottom panel, and a router switch disposed within said well adjacent a front panel at a forty five degree angle relative to said back panel. 